Lights should spread
Dear Editor:
I would like to compliment the city of Blaine on the wonderful display of lights and decorations on Peace Portal Way’s business section. However, I am baffled by the lack of interest in lighting up and decorating Marine Drive. After all the wonderful work done this summer enlarging the marina and constructing such a lovely new harbor master’s office and various other new buildings, not one light has been put on those buildings!
It seems to me that we, the taxpayers, pay for the lighting of our city and why should only the businesses in town benefit from our tax dollars. What happened to the businesses on Marine Drive, didn’t they pay their taxes? There are many businesses there that would benefit from having Christmas lights and decorations to attract new customers too.
We have discussed all summer long how to attract tourists and shoppers to Blaine and to the Marine Park area. Well, winter time on Marine Drive would be so much prettier if the city would care to help out and add some festive decorations. A huge Christmas tree that could be seen from White Rock might let some people over there know that we are open for business, lights down the entire drive would be seen by everyone in White Rock!
Maybe next year, if not this year, we could find someone to donate a large tree and have all the school children and any private citizen that wanted to could donate one ornament ... a tree truly of the people of the city of Blaine. It’s time that the people on the other-side-of-the-tracks got their fair share of Blaine’s interest!
Linda Lawrence
Blaine

Thanks!
The Editor:
The Blaine primary P.T.O. would like to thank all of the parents and teachers who volunteered their time to make the holiday family fun night a success. We would like to give a special thanks to author Jacque Stanley for her wonderful story telling, Jason Ferguson for leading us in song, and of course Santa Claus for dropping by to say hi.
May you all have a fun-filled and blessed holiday season and a happy new year.
Jennifer Schmidt, president
Blaine Primary PTO

The Editor:
We would like to thank the community for all of the support and generosity during the penny drive we held for the past 10 weeks. The money will be donated by the Blaine Firefighters Association to the Fallen New York Firefighters Fund. The total amount raised and donated was $1106 and we are proud to have been a part of helping this way. Special thanks to Blaine businesses who helped by placing a collection container in their locations: World Duty Free, Fritz Companies, Hills Chevron, Harbor Cafe, Chemco Inc, New Edge HairDesign and BP Cherry Point Refinery, and Dollars Plus for your very generous donation. Very special thanks to Todd Berge for your help, and the people at Horizon Bank for handling all of the coins we dumped on them regularly! We are proud to be a part of this very caring community of wonderful
people!
Lois & Cassie Acidera
Blaine

The Editor:
The solo art showing of Jim Agnello, our local artist and woodcarver, was a very successful event. Attendance was very good, with over 100 people attending. Enjoying themselves with the excellent presentation of Mr. Agnello’s paintings and woodcarvings which was held in the main lobby of the Blaine Open Gallery, 808 Harrison Avenue. There was a buffet and guitar renditions provided by Wes Davis of Birch Bay, who was very well-received by the patrons.
Several woodcarvings were sold and Mr. Agnello’s showings will be on display for the full month of December. This will give art lovers a chance to come by the gallery to shop for that one unique gift for that someone special before Christmas.
Thank you Blaine and beyond for your attendance and gracious comments about the artist and how the gallery displayed his art.
Patti Niemela, secretary
Blaine Open Studio

The Editor:
My wife and I have just returned from seeing Dicken’s Christmas Carol directed by Brian Young of La Conner. What a wonderful presentation. La Conner has a true gem in Mr. Young, his portrayal of Mr. Scrooge was truly a beautiful Christmas gift to the audience on hand. There were many laughs, some tears but total joy. Since September 11 the world has been a very different place, but for some two hours we were lifted to a better time and place. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. God bless. Warmest regards.
Jack & Lorrie Scott
White Rock, B.C.

Do unto others...
The Editor:
I am writing to share with you my ideas and some of what I have learned at Blaine high school in Ms. Cummings health class in the last couple of weeks. Here are my thoughts:
I have learned to talk to people looking them in the eyes. It shows others that I am listening to what they are saying. When someone I know is talking I don’t want to interrupt them because it’s not showing them kindness. I have learned to be patient and understanding of who another person is, how they look and how they feel inside. As we treat others with kindness it passes to other people and makes them joyful inside. Then those people pass it on to others. The world could be a happier place to be, because there would be less sadness, and less anger. There would be a lot less violence.
Michael Mcleod
Blaine

Voting all over
The Editor:
Ward Nelson has long been regarded as one of the most reasonable voices on the county council. His opposition to fellow council member Sam Crawford’s proposal to change the county charter by moving to district only voting shows why he has earned this reputation.
I agree with Nelson when he said “I think that all (district voting) would do is create more dissension within the county.” (Bellingham Herald, December 3, 2001.)
During this time of war and economic recession, we need leadership that works to unite us and looks out for the good of all citizens, not just the citizens who happen to live in a given leader’s neighborhood.
Holly Siano
Everson

That small town feeling
The Editor:
I just want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your paper. I live in the city of Orange, California. My family and I vacation at Semiahmoo for at least three weeks in the summer. My mother and father-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. Hagerty also of Orange, have a condo at the Beach Walker Villas. My kids look forward to riding the Plover. In fact the captain let each of them steer the boat once and they still talk about it. I like the small town feeling when I visit. However, it saddens me to see the number of businesses that have closed their doors since we started going there in ’93.
Best wishes to everyone and keep up the good work on
The Northern Light.
Frank and Joanna Perez
Orange, California

Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
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